Dissidence brews in Karnataka BJP; Bhanuprakash quits as party vice-president

Agencies

November 6, 2018

Shivamogga, Nov 6: The dissidence in the Karnataka state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has come to fore once again with former MLC M B Bhanuprakash deciding to quit the post of vice-president.

Announcing his decision here yesterday, he said it was time for the BJP State unit to introspect on the way it is running. He also appealed for intervention from the national leadership.

Mr. Bhanuprakash, who had been removed from the post by Mr. Yeddyurappa for violating party discipline, was reinstated just before the byelections. Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency went to the polls on November 3, with the BJP fielding Mr. Yeddyurappa’s son B.S. Raghavendra as candidate.

Back in April 2017, accusing Mr. Yeddyurappa of taking unilateral decisions on appointments to key positions, members of the old guard, led by K.S. Eshwarappa, MLA for Shivamogga, had organised a public meeting in Bengaluru to register their protest against him. Considering this a violation of discipline, the party leadership relieved Mr. Bhanuprakash and Nirmal Kumar Surana, who attended the event, from their responsibilities as vice-presidents. Following the announcement of the byelections, Mr. Yeddyurappa announced the reinstatement of Mr. Bhanuprakash.

At a press conference on Monday, Mr. Bhanuprakash said he was not consulted before being relieved or reinstated. “The old guard wanted some changes in the way the party was being run. I raised my voice to ensure internal democracy in the party, for which I was sacked.”

Mr. Bhanuprakash said that along with him and Mr. Surana, many functionaries at the district and taluk level who wanted change in the way the party was run were denied responsibilities in the organisation.

“As the general elections are nearing and the party also has to play a key role in issues related to the celebration of Tipu Jayanti, the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and the protests over the entry of women to Sabarimala temple, I appeal to the party leadership in the State to take into confidence the leaders and cadres denied opportunities in the organisation,” he said.

Though he was reinstated on October 16, Mr. Bhanuprakash said, he waited till the conclusion of polling to disclose his stand as he didn’t want his decision to send the wrong message to voters. Expressing displeasure over the selection of candidate for the Ramanagaram Assembly seat, he said that instead of fielding an outsider (L. Chandrashekar), the party should have provided a chance to local leader. He said the State unit should function with an “inclusive spirit” and respect cadre.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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